Three years ago, I had to find a new place to live and considered purchasing a house. Although I had lived in rental property for years, buying a home seemed like a reasonable step to take, and one I had desired for some time. In order to get an idea of the requirements to secure financial aid, I met with a banker. Two major challenges became apparent to applying for a mortgage: my limited financial resources and lack of a credit score. I was certain that owning a house would not be a financial burden, and for decades I’d lived happily without a credit card while responsibly meeting all my financial obligations. Neither challenge deterred my efforts to find a lender.
As a student of Christian Science I turned to prayer—not asking for a house or money but for a clearer understanding of life as guided and governed by God. Because my motive to be a homeowner was unselfish, I knew it was therefore achievable in proportion to my expectation that God’s goodness was at hand. Prayer in Christian Science begins with an affirmation of God’s goodness and loving care. It acknowledges God as the only creator and maintainer of His children—each and every one of us. In those quiet moments of communion I began to feel assured of my present spiritual relationship to God. As I relinquished the idea that I could be separated from Him, my trust in His wisdom deepened and any feelings of self-will dissolved.
When a house near my apartment was listed for sale, I visited the property and with the help of an attorney made an offer to purchase it. The broker who reviewed and subsequently rejected my application for a mortgage suggested I get a credit card and wait a year or two to establish an acceptable credit history. His additional comments also seemed to imply that it was naive to think I could purchase a house under the present circumstances, considering my inadequate income. I thanked him for his suggestion but prayerfully recognized that any sense of lack was a mistaken view of God’s infinite resources and of my expectation that those resources were available to me. I had not the slightest hesitation to move ahead with my search for a house.
